Can A Welder Afford Rent in Rifle, CO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 52.6% of gross income.

Rifle rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Rifle median rent
$2,367/mo
Welder salary (Colorado)
$53,981/yr
Rent as % of income
52.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,498, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,350/mo in rent. Rifle's median rent of $2,367 exceeds that threshold by $1,017/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 91.2 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a welder salary

Welder pay tracks the US median household income closely. Pipeline and underwater welders earn materially more. At the national-average welder salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,285 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Colorado cities have lower median rent than Rifle, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Windsor, CO
$2,363/mo (52.5% of income)
Windsor, CO
$2,356/mo (52.4% of income)
Louisville, CO
$2,355/mo (52.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Rifle

View full rent data for Rifle, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Rifle, CO?

Median rent in Rifle is $2,367 a month. A typical welder in Colorado earns about $53,981 a year, which makes that rent 52.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a welder afford in Rifle?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Colorado (~$53,981/yr) supports up to $1,350 a month in rent. Rifle's current median rent is $2,367/mo, which is $1,017/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a welder work to cover rent in Rifle?

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a welder in Colorado works roughly 91.2 hours a month to cover Rifle's median rent of $2,367.

Where is rent cheaper than Rifle for a welder?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Windsor ($2,363/mo), Windsor ($2,356/mo), Louisville ($2,355/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Colorado state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Rifle, CO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.